England finally kick started their Euro 2016 campaign with a last-gasp win over a Wales side that tested the Three Lions all the way in Lens, but were unable to come up with an answer to goals from Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge.
What a difference a game makes. England’s win sends them top of Group B with just one game to play, while Wales are now tied with Slovakia for 2nd. For both sides in action Thursday, a point in their next game would likely be enough to qualify.
After a drab opening 42 minutes Gareth Bale lined up over a free kick about 35 yards from goal with only one thought in his mind. His powerful, knuckling, curving, went up and over the wall, dipping at the last second to unnerve Joe Hart into making a half-hearted attempt low to his left. It was 1-0 in spectacular fashion, and that man Bale was at the center of it again for Wales.
It was a goal that was befitting of both teams’ championships so far. Wales had put in a tough, gritty, hardworking performance while England had dominated but, as usual, not capitalized on their dominance. Harry Kane was woefully quiet, and Raheem Sterling missed a guild-edged chance to put England 1-0 up. Gareth Bale, however, had taken advantage of Wales’ one real chance, just he and Hal Robson-Kanu did vs Slovakia.
With England going into the break down 1-0, most would be forgiven for questioning England’s mentality in the second half. England had never come back to win a game in the European Championships prior to Thursday, and the way they’d played against Russia, and for the first half against Wales it was hard to see where the goals would come from.
The biggest disappointments of this championships for England have been Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and Roy Hodgson’s seeming nervousness to change his team around and really “go for it.” It’s certain not even England players could have expected what Hodgson did at half time — hauling off Kane and Sterling, replacing them with Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge. It paid dividends almost immediately.
England suddenly looked energized. With Jamie Vardy leading the line being backed up by Wayne Rooney — who has been magisterial in a deeper-lying midfield role —, Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana the Three Lions really had Wales under the cosh. The substitutions payed massive dividends with Vardy using some excellent movement and positioning to be in the right place at the right time to pick up a loose ball 3 yards from goal and turn home England’s equaliser. Daniel Sturridge also picked up a loose ball in the Wales penalty box in the 92nd minute, toe-poking past Wayne Hennessey at his near post.
Wales struggled to get into a rhythm all night. While there were bright spots for the Dragons such as Joe Allen, and Aaron Ramsey’s solid, hard-working performances, many were left wondering what Chris Coleman’s men will do when they come up against better opposition — they can’t keep relying on Gareth Bale. Hal Robson-Kanu’s goal versus Slovakia is still the only goal since October 2014 not scored by somebody named Ramsey or Bale.
if the Dragons are to find their fire and brimstone, they need Bale to elevate them all to a higher level, rather than putting the whole team on his back and like Hodor would for Bran in HBO’s Game of Thrones.
English fans in France and at home breathed a collective sigh of relief at the conclusion of the game — the Three Lions never make things easy on their fans and this was no exception. But while England won the 102nd meeting of the two teams, there must be some serious investigating done within the England camp regarding what Hodgson’s best lineup will be.
Surely we will see a reshuffle for the all-important game versus Slovakia. With Raheem Sterling failing to impress in two straight games and Harry Kane looking exhausted, it’s more likely we see the team that ended the game on the field than the one that started it.
One player going rather unnoticed in this campaign for England thus far is Adam Lallana. The Liverpool winger has looked sharp, and has kept defenses guessing every step of the way — look for Lallana to be key for England going forward in this tournament.
The biggest takeaway from this game is that England were aggressive from the beginning until the end, the first half being more physical than the attacking, surging, aggressive play they kept up until the Sturridge finally broke the deadlock.
The further along they go the more comfortable they will get with the “occasion” of playing at a major international tournament, the stage is set for England’s cubs to become Lions.
Player Ratings:
England: Joe Hart 5; Danny Rose 6; Gary Cahill 7; Chris Smalling 6; Kyle Walker 6; Eric Dier 7; Dele Alli 6; Wayne Rooney 10; Raheem Sterling 4 (Daniel Sturridge 8); Adam Lallana 8 (Marcus Rashford NR); Harry Kane 3 (Jamie Vardy, 8).
Wales: Wayne Hennessy 6; Chris Gunter 6; James Chester 6; Ashley Williams 3; Ben Davies 6; Neil Taylor 5; Joe Allen 7; Joe Ledley 6 (David Edwards 6); Aaron Ramsey 7; Gareth Bale 7; Hal Robson-Kanu 5 (Jonny Williams 4).
